Mumbai: Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, will oppose the Maha Vikas Aghadi government’s plans to provide five per cent reservation for Muslims in education and government jobs. The proposal is a part of the tripartite MVA’s common minimum programme (CMP).   

During a media interaction, he said, “We oppose Muslim reservation or any reservation that is given on the basis of religion. Any reservation that is against the Constitution needs to be opposed. We will not support anything which is anti-constitutional,” he said.

Reacting to these comments, Cabinet minister and Congress leader Aslam Shaikh said that it was the mentality of the BJP to oppose the reservation for Muslims despite the Bombay high court upholding reservations for the community.

“Our government is committed to bringing a bill to provide five per cent reservation to the Muslim community at the right and appropriate time. The mentality of the BJP and the RSS is antagonistic towards Muslims. Even the court has found reservation appropriate for the Muslims. If they want to oppose it despite this, it means that they are against the judiciary also,” Mr Shaikh.